But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank…Dan 1:8
“In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it” (Dan 1:1). The king told the master of his eunuchs to “bring in some of the children of Israel, even of the royal offspring and of the nobles” (Dan 1:3), “and that he should teach them the learning and the language of the Chaldeans” (Dan 1:4). “Now among these of the children of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah” (Dan 1:6). The prince of the eunuchs gave them names: “to Daniel he gave the name Belteshazzar” (Dan 1:7).
“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank” (Dan 1:8). “Now as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan 1:17). These things are in Lesson 1.
“In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams; and his spirit was troubled, and his sleep went from him” (Dan 2:1), and he commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed (Dan 2:12). Daniel went to his house and told his companions, “that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret” (Dan 2:18). When the secret was revealed, “Daniel blessed the God of heaven” (Dan 2:19). Before the king he said, “there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets” (Dan 2:28). “Then the king made Daniel great and gave him many great gifts, and made him rule over the whole province of Babylon and to be chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon” (Dan 2:48). These things are in Lesson 2.
Chapter 3 tells of his three companions being thrown into the furnace; that chapter does not mention Daniel.
Nebuchadnezzar had another dream, and Daniel came in before him (Dan 4:8). Daniel “was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him” (Dan 4:19); he told the meaning of the dream as it was, and then said, “Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor” (Dan 4:27). “All this came on the King Nebuchadnezzar” (Dan 4:28). These things are in Lesson 3.
King Belshazzar held a great feast and drank wine from the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem (Dan 5:2); the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote on the wall (Dan 5:5). Daniel was brought in before the king, who promised him rewards; he said, “Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation” (Dan 5:17). “In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain” (Dan 5:30). These things are in Lesson 4.
When Darius was king, Daniel was one of three presidents over the kingdom (Dan 6:2). The presidents and local governors “could find no occasion or fault, because he was faithful” (Dan 6:4), so they had the king sign a decree. “When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his room toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before” (Dan 6:10). He was cast into the den of lions; the next morning he said to the king, “My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions’ mouths, and they have not hurt me” (Dan 6:22). These things are in Lesson 5.
In the first year of Darius, “I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years about which the LORD’s word came to Jeremiah the prophet for the accomplishing of the desolations of Jerusalem, even seventy years” (Dan 9:2). He fasted and prayed, confessing his own sin and the sin of his people, and said, “for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake” (Dan 9:18). These things are in Lesson 6.
“So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Dan 6:28).
Speaking of things to come, the Lord Jesus called him a prophet: “spoken of through Daniel the prophet” (Matt 24:15).
Daniel Chapters 1–6 tell of his life under several kings in Babylon: his resolve not to defile himself, the king’s dreams, his counsel to the king, the writing on the wall, and the lions’ den; chapter 9 records his prayer; chapters 7–12 record the visions he saw.
Ezekiel Chapters 14 and 28 mention the name Daniel.
Matthew In chapter 24, speaking of things to come, the Lord Jesus calls him “Daniel the prophet”.
6 lessons, for personal study or small groups. Leader guide →
Scripture: World English Bible.